renowned for genius might gladly lay down their crowns of laurel at her feet, and thank her for the glory she has conferred on her sex. She was not gifted with what is termed genius; she has left few written records; and these are expressive of piety, and, like her life, interesting and uplifting in their tendency. Still it was not her mission to write books; but to leave an example of good works, more impressive and beautiful than the pen can teach.
FULLER, SARAH MARGARET,
Was the daughter of Timothy Fuller, a member of the Boston bar, but a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Margaret was born. From 1817 until 1825, Mr. Fuller was sent to Congress, representative of the district of Middlesex. At the close of these political duties, he retired from his profession and settled in the country as an agriculturist; soon afterwards he died.
Margaret was the oldest child of the family, and at an early age evinced remarkable aptitude for study; it became her father's pride and pleasure to cultivate her intellect to the utmost degree. We are told that his tasks were often oppressive, and that her juvenile brain was taxed to the disadvantage of her physical healthy development. Most particularly did the father instruct his daughter in the learning he considered of the first importance—the classic tongues. An acquaintance with these subsequently led her to study the modern languages, and Miss Fuller was, from her youth, distinguished for her extraordinary philological accomplishments.
Miss Fuller was, however, besides her classical studies, most thoroughly exercised in every solid and elegant department of literature, and probably no American woman was ever before so fully educated, as that term is usually applied. After her father's decease, she devoted her talents and acquirements to the assistance of her mother and sisters, by opening classes for the instruction of ladies, both single and married, first in Boston, then in Providence, Rhode Island; and afterwards in Boston again. During this period her womanly characteristics—self-sacrificing generosity, industry, untiring kindness in the domestic circle—were beautifully displayed. Her memory is more sanctified by the love her exemplary qualities called forth in the privacy of home, than by all the literary laurels her admirers wish to offer her.
In 1839, she made a translation of Goëthe's "Conversations;"—this is her first work. She was, in the following year, concerned with Ralph Waldo Emerson in editing the "Dial," a periodical of some note in its day; to which both these writers contributed essays, highly applauded by their transcendental readers. To those who require perspicuity as a condition of excellence in literature, such "wanderings round about a meaning," however fine may be the diction, are never appreciated; yet it is but fair to say, that the meaning of Miss Fuller was always honest and generous. She was so far from being in adoration before herself, that she seemed ever aiming to enlarge the moral good of her "brother man and sister woman."
In 1843, she published a volume—"Summer on the Lakes," being an account of a tour to Illinois. This book contains, with much irrelevant matter, some sensible remarks; but there is little in It, as far as regards style or story, beyond what might be found in
